Spring and cushioning means for vehicles.



J. L. LA DRIERB. SPRING AND GUSHIONLNG MEANS PoR VEHICLES. AIPLICILTION FILED `l'EB.2-1, [913.

Lpfl u Patented Sept. 2, 19,13.

1g or cushioning means for vehicles;

JOSEPH L. LA DRI'ERE, OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

SPRING AND CUSHIONING MEANS FOR VEHICLES.

i Specifica tion of Letters atent.

ifi'itouted Sept. 2, 15H3..

Application filed February 24, 1913. Serial No. 750,409.

To (lll whom t may concern Be it lmown that I, JosnrH L. LA Dionne, citizen of the United States, residing, at Albuquerque, in the county ot Bernalillo and State of New Mexico, have invented new and useful improvements in tipi-ing and Cushioning Means for Vehicles, et which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to springs and it contemplates the provision ot' simple, comact and highly eftieiont lmeans [for absorbing shocks and jars and preventing the transmission ol the same from an axle lo a vehicle body, and this while adequately cushioning,- the body.

To the attainment of the `foregoing.,y the invention consists in the peculiar construe tion, novel combination and adaptation ot' parts hereinafter described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which are hereby made a part hereo't:Figure l is a view showing; my novel spring: and eushioning and shock absorbing means in side ele vation. Fig. 3 is a view partly Vin section, and partly in plan ot the saine. .l"ig. l is an enlarged detailview Villustrative ot one ot' the knuckle joints comprised in my novel device. Fig. 4 is a view showing the lock I prefer to employ for securing;l a nut on each of the bolts comprised in the kniurkle joints. Similar numeralsI of reterenee designate ycorrespondingparts in all ot the views ot the drawings.

My novel device is interposed between a vehicle body 'l and an axle 2, the latter being designed to carry ground wheels (not 40 illustrated).

In furtherance ot my invention, I surround the axle with a box 3 havingr a circumferential groove et, and in said groove l Seat an annular, nllatalile cushioning tube 5; the said tube having an intlation tube 6,

,ot conventional or other suitable construction, through which it may be charged with air under pressure. i'. would. have 4it understood, however, that without involving de parture from'the scope of my claimed invention, an annular cushion other than a pneumatic: tube may be employed. Around the 'annular cushion 5 I arrange a easing that is preferably of metal, and is preteriably formed in sect-ions 7 and 8, having` op posed lugs 9, connected bolts 10. The

lugs t) of the casing section S are provided with spaced tubular portions 1.0, Fig. 2, and between the tubular portions 10* ol!` each pair is arranged the tubular portion 1l at the inner end ot one vertically swinging; arm l'l. Thus it will be Inaniiest that the arms .12 ot which two are employed, are connected with the casing by knuckle joints. "lhese knuckle joints are identical vin construction, and therefore a detailed description ot the one shown in Fig. l will sulhee to impart a definite understanding oli' both. ily reference to ll'ig. l it will be seen that in addition to the tubular portions 10 and 1l, eaeh knuckle joint comprises a threaded and groovef'l bolt lil, linings 14 arranged in the tubular portions l0, a lining; 15 arranged in the tubular portion 1l and secured by a removable screw 1G, a washer 17 arranged againstthe bolt head and the adjacent tubular portion 10, a ease-hardened washer 18 arranged at the inner side oit the washer 17, and within one tubular portion 101, a washer 1S) arranged at the opposite end oit thc joint, with reference to the washer 17, a casehardened washer Q0 arranged at the inner side ol' said washer lf), a circular series of case-hardened anti-friction rollers S21 interposed between Ihe bolt shank and the linings and having; tapered ends which bear at their apiees against the washers .1 8 and 20, a washer surroumling the bolt and. arranged against the washer 1l), and a nut 23 mounted on the bolt, at the outer side oi? the washer 2Q. 'ly virtue ot this construction oi' knuckle joint, it will be manifest that each arm lZ is slronfrly connected with the annular easing;r in sueh manner that the arm is enabled llo l'recly swing in a vertical plane; also, that the vertical swinging niovements of the arm will be practically free` from t'riotion between the arm and the casing. ln the present and preferred embodiment ot my invention, the washer in each knuckle joint is provided with'a tongue to lake into the grriove in the holt shank, and

lill

also prrufided with a spring projection 24,

r ment with each other.

The leaves of the spring are preferably provided with side lips 31 to keep them in aline- The upper and intermediate portion of the spring is connected with the body l through the medium of bolts 33 or any other means compatible with the purpose of my invention.

As will be observed by reference to Fig. 2, the upper section 7 of the annular casing is interiorly square, this in order to enable the annular cushion to expand and be highly resilient.

In the practical use of my invention.l t-he weight imposed on the upper intermediate portion of the spring 30 bends inwardly both ends of the spring to a slight extent, and in a recoil the casing will move downwardly below the horizontal center, and will bend the spring in the same manner either by bearing down or pulling up on the spring. From this it follows that my improved device is calculated to serve as a shock absorber as well as la cushioning means. It will. also be observed in the fore going connection that the shaftor axle, the annular cushion and the casingl surrounding said cushion can` move upwardly and downwardly to a great extent with but little bending of the spring, which is materially advantageous because it materially prolongs the usefulness of the spring.

`tlaviug described my invention, what I claim and desire to secureI by Letters-Patent, is:

1./ In means for the purpose described, the combination of a vehicle shaft ory axle, a. body disposed above the saine, a cushioning annulus surrounding the shaft or axle, a

casing' surrounding said annulus, a spring having its yix'itcrmediatc portion connected with the body, and vcrtically-swinging arms pivotally connected at their inner ends with the casing` and connected at'thcir outer ends with the end portions of the spring.

2. In means for the purposedescribed, the combination of a vehicle shaft or axle, a body disposed above the same, a cushioning annulus surrounding the shaft or axle, a casing surrounding said annulus, a spring having its intermediate portion connected with the body, vertically swinging arms connected at their outer ends with the end portions of the springs, and knuckle joints interposed between and connecting the casing and theinner ends of said arms and respectively comprising tubular portions, a bolt extending therethrough` and anti-frio tion rollersv interposed between the tubular portions and the bolt.

3. In means for the purpose described, the combination of a `vehicle shaft or axle, a body disposed abovix the same, a cushioning annulus surrounding the shaft or axle, a casing surroundingv said annulus, a spring having its intermediate port-ion connected with the body, vertically swinging arms connected at their inner ends with the casing, and knuckle joints interposed between and connecting the end portions of the spring and the outer ends of said arms and respectively comprising tubular portions, a bolt extending therethrough, and Ianti-friction rollers interposed between the tubular portions and the bolt.

4. In means for the purpose described, the combination of a yvehicle shaft or axle, a body disposed above the same, cushioning annulus, of circular form in cross-section, surrounding the shaft or axle, a casing sur rounding said annulus and having a. lower portion that seats the annulus and an upper' portion having a square interior presented to the annulus, a spring having its intermediate portion connected with the body, and vertically swinging arms interposed between and connect-ing the casing and the end portions of the spring.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH L. LA. Dltil'flltll. `Witnesses Louis BLACK,

JULIA R. lViLoox.

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